PowerPoint Presentation€¦ · national attitude for the benefit of the country. In Eva Hart’s case, the award is in recognition of her outstanding contribution in coordinating

Region:

South Metro

Also in this issue:

• Photos, more photos, fun, information

training and events

Liaison Officer’s Round-upGee what a term its been.So much has happenedand with more to come,its an exciting time to beconnected and involvedwith EdConnect.

As most of you are nowaware, we were recentlyawarded the VolunteerOrganisation of the Year2018 by Volunteering WA,a huge honour and onewhich is directly creditedto the wonderful workyou all do. Check out Page5 to see some photos ofthe night.

In addition to this, we hadour coordinators andvolunteers acknowledgedat our EdConnect annualawards ceremony and atawards from externalcommunity groups.

Thanks to a VolunteeringWA grant we were able toconduct local morningteas to the south metroarea during volunteeringweek.

Then we went on to holdour annual state morningtea at Head office. Wherefun and games were hadby all and weacknowledged the serviceof some of our “longtermers”.

Add to that ongoingrecruitment, visiting mostof the schools, newschools, more requestsand new computers andits been a very busy butproductive term.

As always thanks to themany of you for sharing

your stories with me ateither the morning teasor in more formal ways. Ilove to hear about thework you have beendoing and I know that youare awesome.

Happy term 3

Julz

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you

would rather have talked.”

Mark Twain

July 2018

Below is a just my small insights into one workshop I attended in Intercultural Competence. Please note that they are my recollection of the workshop and the notations taken at the time, in conjunction to hand outs given. Thanks to AFS for allowing me to utilise them. I would encourage all to explore Hofstede’s research further.

Initially the participants were asked what we understanding of what Culture is. After we explored the many ways we look at culture, the iceberg image below was displayed. It became very clear that what we see on the surface (our understanding of what culture is),is only a small part of a much bigger picture, and likeany Iceberg the danger is not being aware that thereis so much more to know. The ability to recognisethat at times behaviour has a cultural rational andto be more mindful that our language reflects ourown culture and as such we may input our own values on other cultures, is the starting point for reducing an unconscious bias towards other cultures and individual behaviour. One analogy is that a Fish doesn’t have a sense ofwater until it is no longer in it.

We then explored Hofstede Cultural dimensions theory which explores why people from different cultures react distinctly to similar contexts. We looked at two of his six cultural dimensions, Individualism verses Collectivism and Power distance. In an individualist society members tend to make decisions independently and be most concerned about themselves and close family members. Australia, Britain and the US are included in this culture. On the other hand in collectivistic society, group ties are strong and the family unit includes extended family and include cultures like Pakistan, Indonesia and Guatemala.

The power distance indicator (PDI) describes how less powerful members of society accept and expect an inequality of power. In large PDI societies, members of society do not challenge those in higher levels. They also expect direction from more powerful members. PDI is usually more obvious in Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. Small PDI culture people have equal power among members and advancing to a higher status is possible. Australia and New Zealand are Small PDI cultures.

It is easy to see that even just in these two dimensions the cultural differences can play a significant part in an individual’s approach to life and that to be moved from one dimension to another can cause considerable confusion.

Small Power Distance Large Power Distance

Inequality is minimised Inequality is accepted

There is a hierarchy for convenience There is a hierarchy for necessity

Superiors are accessible Superiors are not accessible

Everyone had the same rights Those that have power have privileges

Change happens through natural evolution Change happens through revolution

Children are equals Children learn obedience

Collectivism Individualism

Communication is high context Communication is low context

Focused on “us” Focused on “me”

Relations are more important than task Emphasis on personal choice

Obligations to fulfil are imposed by group You have to fulfil your own obligations

Maintain harmony and avoid direct confrontation. Speak your thoughts directly

Intercultural Competence

As laughter is the best medicine, and humour and fun is vital when working with kids, here's some great jokes to share. There is many more at https://www.bellamysorganic.com.au/blog/the-best-kids-jokes-to-have-your-kids-in-stitches/ and on many other websites just google Jokes for Kids.

Food JokesQ: What do you call a fake noodle? A: An impasta.Q: Why did the banana go to the doctor? A: Because it wasn’t peeling well.Q: What do you call cheese that’s not your cheese? A: Nacho cheese.Q: What did the asparagus say to the mushroom? A: You’re a fun guy.Q: What’s the best thing to put into a pie? A: Your teeth.

Weather JokesQ: What do you call a sheep with no head or legs? A: A cloud.Q: What did the ocean say when it saw the storm coming? A: Nothing, it just waved.Q: What season is it when you go on a trampoline? A: Springtime.Q: What does a cloud wear under its raincoat? A: Thunderwear.Q: What happens if it rains cats and dogs? A: You need to watch for poodles.

I hope these made you smile

Jokes to enjoy with your students

Animal JokesQ: What do you call an alligator with a magnifying glass? A: An investigatorQ: What is it called when a cat wins a dog show? A: A cat-has-trophy.Q: What do you get if you pamper a cow A: Spoiled milk.Q: What do you get if you cross a fish and an elephant? A: Swimming trunks.Q: Where do bees go to the bathroom? A: The BP station.Q: What do you call a sleeping bull? A: A bulldozer.Q: Why did the bird go to hospital? A: To get tweetment.

EdConnect Award NightThe annual EdConnect awards night was held on Thursday 17th May. This is for work done in the 2017 school year. There are three categories, the Desmond Heenan School Coordinator of the year, Learning Support Volunteer of the Year and Mentor Volunteer of the Year. As always we have many nominations and it was with huge pleasure that again many were from my area. It was a wonderful to see Clare Clayton win the School Coordinators award for Kent street Senior high school. Clare is excellent at supporting the 13 volunteers she has at the school and is great at working with me to find just the right child for each mentor. Congratulation also to Colin Dearle from Harmony Primary, Jack Farrugia from Manning for their nominations for Mentor of the Year and Joyce Michaels from Lynwood SHS for her nomination for School Coordinator. Nominations for this years work will open at in December.

Volunteering WA Awards Night“The WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year 2018”.

“Presented in celebration of a volunteer involving organisation that brings innovative leadership and through good practice volunteering, brings about positive and enduring change to

their community.”

Three regional morning teas where held during National Volunteer Week. One in Mt Pleasant, one at Canning Vale and one at East Vic Park. Thanks to those that were able to attend the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. It is thank to additional funding provided by Volunteering WA that enabled this to occur. In total over 61 people attended the three events.

Morning

teas

We also had our state annual morning tea Maylands, where we had over 90 people attend. Fun games and prizes were involved and we also acknowledged those volunteers that had been with us for over 5,10,15,20 years. (see full list on last page). Those that could not attend will received their certificates shortly.

Congratulation to Eva Hart our EdConnect school coordinator at Como College

“The Pride of Workmanship Award is a Rotary program that seeks to identify individuals whose exemplary contributions to their vocation are worthy of public acknowledgement. The aim is to promote high standards of vocational service by encouraging a much-needed pride in personal performance in the workplace, and to help create a national attitude for the benefit of the country.

In Eva Hart’s case, the award is in recognition of her outstanding contribution in coordinating a volunteer program at Como Secondary College to mentor students experiencing emotional or academic issues that are interfering with their learning.

The Award was presented to Ms Hart by the Rotary Club of Como on 11 June 2018.”

Online

upgrade

We have recently launched our

new online application process.

Although previously we were

able to take online application

from out website, we have

recently updated the process to

make it easier and clearer for

new volunteers and the

information is automatically

uploaded to our data base. This

cuts down on entering the

information by hand and most

importantly making it super

easy for new people to apply.

If you know of someone you

think would make a great

volunteer simply get them to go

to the website and click to

volunteer.

Other Awards

PLEASE HELP !!

I am currently looking to get

more volunteers for the Byford

and Spearwood areas.

If you live in these areas or

have friends that do, I would

appreciate you talking about the

program so that even if they

cant volunteer that they can

help to spread the news.

Other schools currently needing

volunteers include the

Kelmscott and Armadale areas

and the Bibra lakes and south

lakes region.

Visit www.edconnectaustralia.org.au or

follow us facebook.com/EdConnectAustralia

Call us in Western Australia on – 08 9444 8646

Or email us at [email protected]

Or Me at [email protected]

and we’ll be in touch.

5 yearsWendy Ardagh

Angela Zeck

John Glisenti

Edwina Cusworth

Bola Osinaike

Sylvia Dias

Russel Clark

Larraine Purvis

Teresa Cameron

Upcoming Training

The following workshops will be available in the next

months. These will all be at the Maylands office 9.30-

12.30, if you would like to attend simply call or email to

book.

Resilience 3rd October

Safeguarding children 14th August

Module 2 Mentoring 21st August

(full day 9.30-4) 10th October

Module 1 Learning support 2nd August

4th September

26th September

16th October

Training

Dates

20 Years

Margaret Reid

15 years

Max Freeman

10 yearsKay Leek

Sonia Babaeff

Christopher Jolly

Pauline Jolly

Recipients for Service

Awards